View Full Version : 73 Magazine QRT 10.10.03
ErikNY9D
10-10-2003, 09:30 PM
The ARRL Web Site is reporting that 73 Amateur Radio Today Magazine will close as of the September issue. #There were plans for a final October/November issue that just fell through. #
It was a fine magazine and a nice forum for a range of interesting and controversial topics. #I most enjoyed the DXpedition coverage.
Erik, NY9D
KB1JCY
10-10-2003, 10:02 PM
Wow. I hope World Radio doesn't go QRT.
WB2WIK
10-10-2003, 10:30 PM
Wayne's ego finally killed it, although it's been dying for at least ten years.
Back in the 1960's and 70's, and even a bit into the 80's, it was a pretty slick publication. Had several friends who worked there, and I visited the Peterborough, NH "mansion" several times. Wrote several articles for them, and through the 80's, they were paying authors on time.
The first time they neglected to pay for an article, after a dozen repeated promises to do so, I pulled the plug on submitting anything...that was at least five years ago, maybe more.
Oh well. May
73 R.I.P.
WB2WIK/6
Well, 43 years is not bad longevity, Ham Radio And Ham Radio Horizons never cam close. I always liked 73 up until the early 80s when Wayne started to slip a bit. Also have a nice colection from the second issue up through about 1982 With some issues not yet acquired. In many ways I am sorry to see it go.
73 to 73
George
K3UD
W5HTW
10-10-2003, 11:10 PM
That will be a loss. Though the politics of Wayne Greene were not in line with what appeared to be that of the masses, the magazine was a good one, with a wonderful array of articles covering a broad range. I had not seen one in years, so don't know the changes, but was a subscriber in the early and mid 60s, and it was a very nice pub.
Oddly enough, I had been considering looking it up and checking into subscribing, but over the past few months I let that slide by, and now I guess it's good I didn't.
Ham Radio is a magazine I have not seen in a long time, either. Had forgotten it existed. At one time it was probably my favorite, with the best classified ads section of all the ham radio publications. A "window shopping trip delight" in every issue.
I can't say I'll miss 73, as I haven't missed it for many years, but it is a shame to see it die.
Will World Radio go next? I've read conflicting stories. One says World Radio is published by a group interested ONLY in ham radio. But the magazine "Military" is published by the same folks, so something not agreeing there. World Radio, due to its cheaper format, stands a chance to survive, but it lacks that broad appeal that Ham Radio, 73, and even Ham Horizons had. CQ and QST had it, probably still do. Takes a lot of money to put out a good rag and if the income isn't there, it will have to go.
Though I haven't read a 73 in years, I know it will be missed by many. As Steve says,
RIP
73
Ed
w5alt
10-10-2003, 11:41 PM
Yep, looks like the end of an era.
Oh well, at least I can say 73 73, so
73's
K9STH
10-10-2003, 11:56 PM
Unfortunately, according to various sources, CQ has again fallen into the non-payment of authors, columnists, etc. That is what cost the Cowan family greatly during the 1970s and they eventually sold out. Don't know how long CQ is going to last.
Until at least the 1980s 73 was a great magazine to write for. You didn't get an acceptance slip, you got a cheque for full payment of the article, often long before it ever got published. But, after Wayne Green sold out the first time, things started to "slip" and the magazine never fully recovered.
Glen, K9STH
73 had a good long life,i can recall issues in the seventies with up to 300 pages per issue.. in addition to the fact that it had gone down hill in the last number of years... i should think that the internet had some impact, and may, impact other such publications in the future....wayne green, agree with him or not, is a very interesting guy.....how many of you remember when 73 magazine costs 37 cents an issue.
dan,k3xr
I wrote a number of articles for 73 (and others) Usually took 6 months and several letters (no email back then) to get paid. That was AFTER publication, which could take months. Took most of the fun out of writing.
Tom K8ERV
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K9STH @ Oct. 10 2003,16:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Until at least the 1980s 73 was a great magazine to write for. #You didn't get an acceptance slip, you got a cheque for full payment of the article, often long before it ever got published. #But, after Wayne Green sold out the first time, things started to "slip" and the magazine never fully recovered.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
73 published some of my submissions over the years, and accepted one they didn't use. A couple of years later, they sent that ms back, with a one year subscription for the inconvenience.
I got to talk to Wayne shortly after 73's quality began dropping; I told him he needed to hire a Chief Editor to run it and retire to being the distinguished publisher.
As we know, he didn't.
Sic transit 73.
Cortland
ai4ep
10-11-2003, 04:52 AM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Sounds like the PRINTING industry is having a rough time, paper costs, ink costs, competition from the internet...it appears to be an up hill battle to stay in business these days. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
KI4BOO
10-11-2003, 05:05 AM
Shortly after I recieved my license in the mail in July, I got an advertisment from 73 to sign up for a new subscription.
It was relatively inexpensive, and I considered subscribing. However, throughout the letter they sent they made references to their "official" standpoint on a certain topic regarding Amateur Radio.
I found this to be hokey sounding, and I didn't think It was right for the media to take a position on a certain topic. It seemed like they were just trying to make their magazine more appealing to entry-level amateurs, if you know what I mean.
Needless to say, I didnt subscribe. Now that I hear of the magazine folding, Im glad I didn't.
WA2ZDY
10-12-2003, 10:18 AM
Wayne Green is a character and a half, that's for certain. Even if one couldn't stand his positions, if you read his many page (admittedly too long) editorials, you learned something.
73 was a great magazine I subscribed to for many years. The only thing I didn't care for was the pages of BASIC programs every month, but looking back, that was a great service for the forward looking (of which I was not one.)
If nothing else, the end of 73 means one less viewpoint on things ham radio related. I have always thought ARRL and Wayne Green offset each other. If you read both and averaged the two, you probably had a fair grasp on what was REALLY happening in ham radio.
Wayne slipping? I don't think so. He just got to where he was speaking his mind and didn't care who thought he shouldn't.
For any of you who don't know, Wayne Green was a radio operator during WW2 on the submarine USS Drum SS228, and she is currently on display at Mobile, Alabama. VERY historic stuff if you're ever down that way. (And no, there is nothing related to Wayne down there. Just a point of interest while on the subject.)
kc2jga
10-12-2003, 02:11 PM
Back in the early 90's, my interests were on the VHF side. I think I did pickup a copy of 73's and read a couple articles. I had seen it was more geared to HF, so I never picked it up again. I use to have a subscription to CQ VHF, then they stopped printing. Never knew why. Now, I have a better understanding of HF, kinda wish I had gotten a subscription through them. Well, maybe somebody will pickup were it was left off and start reprinting.
73's
Mike
K9STH
10-12-2003, 05:48 PM
During the 1960s and 1970s, 73 was definitely a proponent of VHF and FM. It wasn't until the ARRL saw all the advertising revenue going to 73 that they "invented" FM! CQ wasn't really that much of an FM advocate (although they did have a number of VHF articles over the years) until I became their first FM Editor in 1971. Then, after a couple of years CQ got back into their "rut" of not paying authors and they started going downhill. When I stopped writing the FM column no less than 14 half and/or full page advertisers immediately withdrew their advertising. CQ could have paid me with the proceeds from a single full page ad for one month! However, they never did pay me what they owed me and "cut off their nose to spite their face" in terms of advertising revenue.
Wayne Green was one of the best "devil's advocates" of all times. I first met him in 1965 and got to know him at least "slightly" well. His editorials that were against (or for) various things that were very controversial was just his way of "stirring the pot" and selling more magazines. I know of quite a number of these editorials that expressed just the opposite of his "real" feelings about the subject. But, since he was so adamant about various topics people bought the magazine just to see what he was "ranting" on that month.
Although the quality of 73 has definitely been going "down hill" since Wayne bought it back, I am still "saddened" to see it go. Ham Radio Magazine had many articles that were on the "cutting edge" of amateur radio for a number of years. However, Skip Tenney and company just couldn't make it over the long run. Unfortunately, CQ has gotten itself into the same boat. Even though the Cowan family sold out years ago, the magazine again fell into the same situation that it had been under Sanford Cowan and Dick Cowan (Sanford's son), namely not paying people for their work.
Back in the "hey day" of the late 1960s and well into the 1970s, 73 Magazine paid considerably more for their articles and thus pretty much had their "pick" of the litter. However, over the years the market changed and all of the amateur radio magazines had to cut back. Unfortunately, this is still pretty much the situation today.
Anyway, I am sad to see 73 go!
Glen, K9STH
w5zzq
10-12-2003, 06:22 PM
I hate to hear of the closing. Is that what is called progress? Didn't know they were having problems.....Good luck to the rest of the magazines........
ad5td
10-12-2003, 07:41 PM
Get ready to see "Collections" of old 73' mags on Ebay... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
n8zux
10-12-2003, 10:09 PM
Well it would have been an idea maybe to sell to another publisher like Ziff-Davis , then Wayne could have retired and live in the Bahammas and operate down there. if I was him I would have sold it to the higgest bidder took the money and boggey outtta here! I knew a Jewerly dealer was offered big bucks for some land and he retired, had a clearence closing sale and boggyed outta town on retirement. thats how money i$ made http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
kb9wgx
10-14-2003, 05:48 AM
To bad about 73!
Maybe now all my old 73, cq, and Ham Radio mags will be worth something.
Josh
W6ECE
10-14-2003, 09:10 AM
I had a three year subscription that is to end this coming December. I had decided to not re-subscribe some time ago. #Just last week I received a renewal notice urging me to get my renewal in early so I would not miss a single copy! He was trying to milk it to the end.
Bernie W6ECE
N1XHF
10-14-2003, 11:54 AM
That's to bad about 73, I used to read 73 growing up. I think from 84-92 I don't think I missed an issue. I think many people on here have already pointed out over the last decade the magazine has gone to the birds, Too many ads and not enough good content. I hope world magazine is not next that is the last best publication. QST is heading down the road of 73, they have some good articles but to many ads and to much contest stuff. ARRL should just put contest results on line instead of using it as filler in QST. If any contest results should be published in QST is should be the amount of illegal 10 meter operators that have been busted and the HAM that did the work to bring the pirate to justice. Now that is contesting http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
K2ACX
10-14-2003, 12:30 PM
Excuse my ignorance, but I've never read 73.
Can someone explain these references to Wayne 'selling out,' etc.? What has he said that got everyone so fired up? Like I said, I've never read it- merely curious.
Thanks.
Brian K2ACX
Brian
Sometime back, Wayne sold 73 magazine to an outfit called CW communications (ironic.... is it not?) He reportedly made a bundle on the deal. I had heard that he either re-purchased it or established some interest in it after the sale, but I could be wrong and someone on this thread will have the correct information.
I have most of the 73 issues from number 2 up until 1980 and many scattered issues since that time. I can not say that I have read everything Wayne has ever written but I think I have read most of his original stuff. Unfortunately, he tended to repeat his previous stuff a lot in later years. Of course, if you are trying to get a message out, I guess that is what you do.
IMHO Wayne was a visionary in the 60s through the early and mid 70s. I believe many of his predictions as regards to ham radio have come to pass and if the service had followed some of the ideas he illustrated in the 60s and 70s, it might be better off today. I have met Wayne on several different occasions at Hamfests and Conventions in the early 70s and I have to admit that he is the consummate salesman.
As several have posted, you either love or hate him. I have not met many who have read his stuff and came away neutral. In recent years he seems to have gotten a bit paranoid (the suppression of the AIDS cure, the IRS,etc.) and I think he was always, in some ways, in awe of the ARRL and the power he ascribed to it.
I think his best of most accurate prediction was the effect that Incentive Licensing was going to have on Ham radio. It is almost haunting to read these predictions from the early and middle 60s and then track the course of ham radio up through the 70s.
Wayne was able to tap into the general unrest, rebellion, and
counterculture activities of the mid 60s to early 70s and I think that is
where he built the small power base of supporters he had. His thinking was always more inclusive than exclusive and I really believe that he had the best interests of ham radio at heart. I do not know if he is active on the net or logs on to QRZ, but it would be interesting to hear from him.
73
George
K3UD
K9STH
10-14-2003, 04:58 PM
Wayne sold his various publishing interests and tried to retire. #Unfortunately for amateur radio in general, the people who bought out the various publications started "running them into the ground". #Wayne then reacquired 73 and several others after about two years. #I understand that by that time the amateur radio publications had become a liability, rather than an asset, to those who had purchased them. #I have been told, but don't know for an exact fact, that he was able to reacquire them at a "bargain basement" price.
However, even though Wayne Green again took over the "driver's seat", the damage had been done and the magazine never fully recovered.
Back in the late 1960s and into the 1970s, 73 Magazine was the only "national" magazine of interest to amateur radio operators that was really "pushing" VHF FM and repeater operation. #At that time, Wayne was paying a very good premium to those authors who were writing on the subject of FM. #I was definitely among those authors and got some very good cheques for my efforts. #It wasn't until the ARRL discovered all of the advertising revenue that was going to 73 instead of QST that they "invented" FM operation.
After I took the position of the first FM Editor of CQ Wayne hired a person as the editor of 73 who, for some reason, just didn't like me! #Frankly, I never met the individual and had no correspondence with him. #But, for the three months that this person was the editor of 73 he put in print all sorts of things about my qualifications. #He had forgotten that most of my articles had been published in 73 and he was basically saying that 73 had been publishing articles of questionable value!
Wayne fired the guy and, at SAROC (used to be 2nd only "hamvention" in size to Dayton) in Las Vegas that particular year, Wayne offered me a public appology (in the presence of well over 500 FMers) at the FM forum. #We were "co-hosts" of the event.
For those who have never read 73, I really suggest getting some copies from the 1960s and 1970s. #The quality of the magazine was excellent at that time (articles, columns, editorials, etc.).
Glen, K9STH
K6UEY
10-14-2003, 05:23 PM
73 Magazine is no more! One of the first thoughts that comes to mind where are we going to find technical articles about 3 el beams with 15 dB gain, and how will we know when ACE hardware is marketing the new cancer curing machine? Where else can we find a complete list of advertisers all in one publication ?
I subscribed for a couple of years, to find out who was current in the market place for Ham Gear, but finally had to drop it. There was confusion about how I spell my call letters, after multiple correspondence attempts, even to Wayne direct, it soon became obvious what the problem was, #I only used English and the staff did not have a second lanuage. Apparently the route to the bank to cash the checks was drawn pictorially so there was never any delay or confusion. #
73 is dead, long live 73, an unforgettable experience........ # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif # # # # ORV
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K6UEY @ Oct. 14 2003,10:23)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">One of the first thoughts that comes to mind where are we going to find technical articles about 3 el beams with 15 dB gain, and how will we know when ACE hardware is marketing the new cancer curing machine? Where else[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I feel badly about your post. Oh, it's not your fault! That's the 73 you knew. But I remember a better one, that I was saddened to see decline.
Cortland